Nunavut Gambling Laws – Legal Gambling & Games in NU, Canada

Nunavut Gambling Laws & Canadian Gambling Laws

You may not know that, but Nunavut is the largest province in Canada that stretches its vast territory over the Arctic Archipelago. Nunavut province has about 116,000 people and has the highest percentage of Inuit, First Nation Peoples, and Metis in Canada. There are no territorial political parties, but there is a Nunavut consensus-based governance.

Despite it is an independent province, Nunavut follows the main Canadian laws, including the gambling legislation. There are no Nunavut gambling laws regulating casinos, but in August 2021, the province authorised its retail sportsbooks to offer single-event bets. Here is what more you need to know about gambling in Nunavut:

The Nunavut laws regulating gambling relate only to lotteries and sports betting. The situation in this Canadian province is quite interesting because the games legalised by the gambling laws in Canada are available, but there are a few places to play. The good thing is that Nunavut rules of court do not pursue online gamblers unless in exceptional circumstances we will mention further down this article.

There is no Nunavut prohibition over gambling games, so anyone over the legal gambling age can participate at licenced locations and online gambling sites. Any player who wins a prize while gambling is free from Nunavut taxes because the provincial government chose to follow Canadian laws.

Gambling Licences & Responsible Gambling in NU, Canada

The Nunavut law about gambling states that any operator intending to offer wagering games must have a provincial licence. There is no surprise since this is the base requirement for all brick-and-mortar locations and for the best Canadian casinos online for 2024. In the next paragraphs, we will explain the licencing procedure and the responsible gambling policy in Nunavut province.

Gambling Licences in Nunavut, Canada

There might not be a Nunavut casino law, but there is a Department of Community and Government Services dealing with all gambling-related matters and monitoring all land-based and online gambling activities. Another responsibility is issuing licenses to casino operators, but so far, they are not regulated, so locals enjoy the best online casinos in Nunavut, Canada.

Any operator or retail location willing to offer Nunavut lottery and instant win games also needs a licence from the department. The application is sent to the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, and after approval and paid fee, the operator can offer lottery tickets, scratch cards, bingo, Nevada pull tickets, raffle tickets, 50/50 coupon tickets, charitable casino games, sports draft, and other licensed games.

Nunavut citizens like poker, so many locations hold tournaments and games. Those land-based gambling locations also need special Texas Hold’em Poker licence granted by the provincial government authorities.

Responsible Gambling Canada & Nunavut Department of Health

The Nunavut government has considered the negative sides of too much gambling. The issue is dealt with by the Department of Health and the Canadian Responsible Gambling Council. You can find the Nunavut’s responsible gambling measures on the province’s government site website. It is also good to check the Canadian Consumer Handbook and learn how consumers’ rights in Canada are protected.

Nunavut’s Land-Based Gambling Locations

The most interesting part of the Nunavut laws on gambling is the legal games players can enjoy at any time. The gambling statistics in Canada show the preferred games and that Nunavut players are equally fond of wagering. The main difference is that this giant province has few brick-and-mortar locations where you can enjoy the following legal games:

All games listed above and their variations are legal according to the Nunavut casino laws if you play at a licensed gambling location and you meet the requirements of the Nunavut gambling age. The vast distance and the low population are why there are no land-based casinos or big gambling halls. Locals visit retail locations to buy a lotto ticket or play online at the best real money online casinos in Canada.

Online Gambling & Nunavut’s Sport Select

At the beginning of this blog post, we explained the gambling regulation in the province, and you might have noticed that there is no Nunavut online gambling law, but the Canadian online gambling laws apply. There are also no Nunavut online casinos because no operator has applied for a licence. The reasons are the vast distances and the weather that could severely disrupt the internet connection.

Nunavut players can register at offshore online gambling sites, but there are a few conditions. First, the operator must not have a physical presence in Canada; second, the sites should be licenced by a legitimate government authority of another country. Nunavut players don’t need VPN (a virtual private network) because many offshore and foreign casinos accept Canadian players.

Before we move to online games, we recommend you choose online casinos and gambling sites with licences and regulations. They should allow Canadian dollar currency and payment methods to be available in Canada. Furthermore, bonuses and customer support should be available in English and/or French.

Online Casinos

The Nunavut gambling laws do not specify mobile gaming but rest assured that you can freely use the top mobile casino apps in Canada on every modern tablet and phone. Online casinos are the only way Nunavut players can enjoy slots, RNG table games, and live dealer games. The downside is that you will not be able to play when the weather is bad or if you don’t meet the requirements of the legal gambling age set by the operator. Otherwise, all licenced offshore casinos are accessible since there are no local ones.

Online Lottery & Bingo

The Nunavut law on gambling allows NU players to enjoy the top online lotteries in Canada. The online version of the Nunavut Lottery is also provided by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC). Players can try the sports draft lotteries on its official website – Sport Select. One cannot bet on a single event, which limits the range of opportunities for the customers).

Online Poker

Poker variations are among the most popular Nunavut games and many people kile to play at land-based establishments. Since there are a few land-based poker rooms for fond players, the locals direct their attention to the best online poker sites in Canada. We can say which are the favorite poker variations in Nunavut because there is a special province Texas Hold’em Poker licence and a Nunavut Hold’em Poker game. Any player at legal gambling age can register, deposit, and joyn the PvP games and the multiple tournaments.

Online Sports Betting & Horse Races

Without a Nunavut online gambling laws, players are not restricted in terms of licensed games. The single-game sports betting are legal, so players can wager on major sports or horse races. Since there are no major local teams and no Nunavut online casinos, locals and visitors of the province can register at the best sports betting sites in Canada.

eSports & Daily Fantasy Sports

Lately, eSports and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) have growing popularity among young players. Since there are no Canadian government restrictions or Nunavut online gambling laws, players can freely play them. It is best to register at the new online casino sites in Canada or other licensed gambling websites offering those games.

Fun Activities in Nunavut, Canada

This blog post is dedicated to the Nunavut gambling laws and venues, but there is much more to do in this province. First, it is best always to keep an eye on the Iqaluit weather forecast because the weather can go bad, and it can get very cold amazingly fast. If you don’t believe us, keep in mind that the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited place, Alert, is in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, NU, Canada.

Many people who have tried the Canadian-themed slots get inspired to explore this vast and gorgeous land. If you also intend to plan a trip to the far north, then put your boots on, wear warm clothes, and go on a real adventure with those local thrills:

There are not that many Nunavut sports venues, but you may enjoy the Arctic Winter Games, Canada Winter and Summer Games, North American Indigenous Games, or the Western Canada Summer Games. Visiting the Artcirq, Inuit circus performers show in Igloolik or visiting cultural festivals and art shops are also memorable activities.

It is not recommendable to go out for a walk alone outside of the capital Iqaluit, Nunavut. There are no roads or sidewalks, so you can easily get lost. To have a wonderful time in this vast land of ice and wildlife, it is best to hop on a plane, dog sledge, or snowmobile with reliable guide and warm clothes.

Nunavut Gambling Laws Interesting Questions

Knowing the Nunavut gambling laws is important to every local player and visitor of the province who intends to play online while watching the northern lights. You can read all about them in the blog post, and here are the answers to several interesting questions about gambling in Nunavut.